1 B ecause Israel a youth, and I love him, Out of Egypt I have called for My Son.

When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.

2 T hey have called to them rightly, They have gone from before them, To lords they do sacrifice, And to graven images they make perfume.

The more they called them, The more they went from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to idols.

3 A nd I have caused Ephraim to go on foot, Taking them by their arms, And they have not known that I strengthened them.

Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them.

4 W ith cords of man I do draw them, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline unto him -- I feed.

I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and fed them.

5 H e turneth not back unto the land of Egypt, And Asshur -- he his king, For they have refused to return.

They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria—he will be their king Because they refused to return to Me.

6 G rievous hath been the sword in his cities, And it hath ended his bars, and consumed -- from their own counsels.

The sword will whirl against their cities, And will demolish their gate bars And consume them because of their counsels.

7 A nd My people are hanging in suspense, about My returning, And unto the Most High they do call, Together they exalt not.

So My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

8 H ow do I give thee up, O Ephraim? Do I deliver thee up, O Israel? How do I make thee as Admah? Do I set thee as Zeboim? Turned in Me is My heart, kindled together have been My repentings.

How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled.

9 I do not the fierceness of My anger, I turn not back to destroy Ephraim, For God I, and not a man. In thy midst the Holy One, and I enter not in enmity,

I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.

10 A fter Jehovah they go -- as a lion He roareth, When He doth roar, then tremble do the sons from the west.

They will walk after the Lord, He will roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come trembling from the west.

11 T hey tremble as a sparrow out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Asshur, And I have caused them to dwell in their own houses, An affirmation of Jehovah.

They will come trembling like birds from Egypt And like doves from the land of Assyria; And I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.

12 C ompassed Me with feigning hath Ephraim, And with deceit the house of Israel. And Judah again is ruling with God, And with the Holy Ones faithful!

Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.